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State wants $763,268 from county

Historic City News has previously reported that 57 of Florida’s 67 counties, including St Johns County, have joined with the Florida Association of Counties to challenge the 2012 Medicaid Billing Law, saying that it is unconstitutional.

In a televised interview during last night’s budget hearing, County Attorney Patrick F. McCormack told reporters that a $763,268 bill received from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for Medicaid services dating back to 2001 will now be the basis for further legal action by the county against the state.

McCormack referred to a list of charges for patients located in Duval, Volusia, Seminole, Clay, Citrus, Palm Beach, Brevard, Flagler, and Hillsborough counties that were included in the $763,268 disputed bill — some of the charges were for patients who listed the address of the St Johns County Administration Building as their residence.

Other “pure, outright errors” cited by McCormack in the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration billing included St Johns County taxpayers being, “re-billed for claims the county has already paid and getting double-billed for the same claim”.

The county is requesting mediation and a formal administrative hearing. During the interview, McCormack said, “We think our records are better than the state’s and we’re prepared to go to hearing to prove that”.

In one published statement, a spokesperson said the state agency “contests the factual and legal assertions,” alleged in St Johns County’s petition. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration says they intend to collect for charges they believe are legitimate.

The state has enforcement remedies, including withholding the unpaid charges from future payments due to St Johns County. They say that they intend to, “respond accordingly in the administrative proceedings”. Starting October 1, the state could start withholding the county’s revenue-sharing funds for the next five years.